Amosun campaign group raises alarm over alleged purchase of PVCs

THE All Peoples Congress (APC) in Ogun state has raised alarm over alleged wholesale purchase of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) by candidates and representatives of opposing parties, in an effort to manipulate the forthcoming elections, and disenfranchise the good people of Ogun State.

In a statement yesterday, Senator Ibikunle Amosun Campaign Organisation, (SIACO) said it was “reliably informed of this despicable violation of citizen rights by concerned Ogun State indigenes from across the state, who have been coming out in their thousands to welcome the campaign train of His Excellency, the Governor of the State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, as he traverses through the 236 wards in the state.”

According to the statement signed by Chairman, Media & Publicity Committee of SIACO, Femi Sowoolu, “It is very important to note that the act of purchasing Permanent Voters Cards from potential voters is illegal and have the potentials for compromising the electoral process. It is equally a provocative act capable of undermining the freedom of choice of the voters. We therefore call on security agencies to investigate the act and bring the perpetrators to book. That is the only thing that can ensure we have a credible, peaceful and free elections in our state.

“We also affirm that we are in possession of credible evidence confirming that APC posters, banners and billboards are being removed, defaced and destroyed by criminal elements in certain parts of the state. In some instances, these campaign materials are being replaced with that of other political party candidates in provocative manners.

“Of particular mention are posters of a senatorial candidate, which have only recently appeared over the past few days, but which have reprehensibly been commonly used to replace authentic posters of the more astute All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.

“We assert that this heinous act of defacing, destroying, removing and replacing one party’s posters with another is deplorable, dangerous and extremely inciting, and contravenes the principles of ‘Violence-Free’ elections, as well as the rules of the recently-signed Abuja Peace Accord, which was agreed to by all the fourteen political parties in Nigeria.

“ That agreement commits all parties to peaceful electioneering campaigns, peaceful polls, and the effective management of the outcome of the 2015 elections, towards ensuring there is no outbreak of violence. With this timely accord in sight, and in mind, and for the benefit of peaceful elections as well as a positive future of our great nation, we must not be allowed to slide back into the political belligerence and rascality of the past”

The party maintained that “the scars of the past have almost healed, at least in Ogun State; evidenced by the warmth, peacefulness, camaraderie and good-spiritedness witnessed as Governor Amosun and his team are warmly received and feted daily around the state”